Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-05

The reform societies which expend their whole
energies en- the adoption Of resolutions the issue
OF moral tracts and the occasional publication OF
the names OF their Officers In the newspapers mad
b~tter taSe lesson OF the New York city Reform
Club, which goes At It's work In thoroughly
practical manner that can hardly fail OF accom-
plishlny vast amount Of good. This CLUB having
set about the publication Of the legislature, has
published a small pamphlet containing the record
Of the several city members OF last winters less-
latnre, 30 that every citizen can inform himself
what manner OF men thO>e are who may attempt
procure 4 reelection. The story In each case is
made up from Oficial sources, a. far a. they can
be drawn upon for such material. ana nlled In
with that general praise or censure 10 which com
mon fame entities them The club never minces
matters when ~ has any comments or us own TO
make. OF one memb r II says:
.sProbaUIy the worst man In ne Assembly. He
IL the recognized agent on The floor % aweii-known
lobbyist. and talks carele~sly % having money TO
use for TIE passage or me dsIeat OF this or .hat
never protessed 10 be honest and that he had been
employ al 70 buy votes 20 prevent the adoption Of
the report Was consistently on the side OF the
nQuOr interest, even refusing 10 be bound by the
action % ths party CAUCUS ia excise matters He
Is the most injurious man 70 the city In the New
acfty anu consf ancy OF his rascality.'
Here Is another extract showing n charitable
disposition toward errors OF mere weakness:
'.Record for the session comparatively good lie
usually voted wrong. but the elaborate care with
when az explained lis votes showed at least some
respect for decenCy and public opinion"
And here is a note or praise:
ssThe best View YORK city man In the Assembly
He was Industrious. watchful, upright, and fear
ess-
The two features which commend this little book
10 the pubic faith are, first. Its evident fairness
democrats, republicans, and labor party men being
placed upon the same level and spoken OF with
perfect candor; and, second, its authority. the
course pursued by each member with reference TO
the eaiing bills before the legislature last session
being given In detail. II every congressional dis
trict In the United states contained such a club
which fearlessly exposed the shortcomings and ac-
credited the good work OF It's public servants with
out regard 20 party ariiati n, what an Influence
n would have for the purincdlOn OF politics! No
single citizen has time or opportunity TO follow for
himself the conduct Of each Of the men he helps
put INFO once; but an Association with several
pair OF eyes and ears and an efficient system for the
classification OF It's observations can do this for
whole community and save every good citizen
from the risk Of throwing away his ballot.
Chairman John ). Barbour has appealed IN no
uncertain tone 70 the partisan instincts OF his fel.
lOw-d-mocrats Of virginia, but his address Is not
strong one from the logical point OF view It's only
pretence at an argument is drawn ron precedents
IN 4-,rftiOu Iudt. dS -lult has DScl I'D the
past democratic state, she ought TO continue
such. This Will do very well for those citizens
who believe In Conservatism for its own sake: but
those who do some thinking for themselves will be
very APT 10 ask Why Virginia has so steldfastly
held 70 ore party aud why she should continue
with that party forever. This question Mr.. Bar
bour does not assume TO answer. n the democrats
OF tine Ole Dominion could agree among them
selves upon one policy To Dc pursued with respect
,,fr
issue, their chairman would not need 10 put forth
app~als az the eleventh hour In or1er 20 bring all
the voters 70 the polls on election day. The inde-
cslon aud tee apparent moons seneies in the Roa-
noke platform are responsible for keeping many
citizens Uncertain TIL whether IL VIII be worth
their while 70 cast ballots when they have nothing
sure 10 yOte for except candidates.